Cohors XXVI Voluntariorum

A gargoyle with the inscription of the cohort ( CIL 13, 6307 )

The Cohors XXVI Voluntariorum [civium Romanorum] ( German  26th cohort of volunteers [of the Roman citizens] ) was a Roman auxiliary unit . It is evidenced by inscriptions and brick stamps.

Name components

• Cohors : The cohort was an infantry unit of the auxiliary troops in the Roman army .

• XXVI : The Roman number stands for the ordinal number the twenty-sixth ( Latin sexta vicesima ). Hence the name of this military unit is pronounced as Cohors sexta vicesima ...

• Voluntariorum : the volunteer.

• civium Romanorum : the Roman citizen. The soldiers of the cohort were presumably recruited from Roman citizens when the unit was established.

Since there are no references to the additions to the name milliaria (1000 men) and equitata (partially mounted), it can be assumed that it is a Cohors quingenaria peditata , a pure infantry cohort. The nominal strength of the unit was 480 men, consisting of 6 Centuries with 80 men each.

history

The cohort was stationed in the province of Germania superior in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD . The last evidence of unity is based on an inscription dated 171/230.

Locations

Locations of the cohort in Germania superior were possibly:

• Aquae ( Baden-Baden ): several inscriptions as well as bricks with the stamps of the unit were found here.
• Fort Heddesdorf : two inscriptions were found here.
• Vindonissa ( Windisch ): a brick with the stamp of unity was found here.

Members of the cohort

The following members of the cohort are known.

Commanders

Lucius Valerius Firmus , a tribune

T (itus) Statilius Felix, a tribune ( CIL 3, 506 )

Others

Anicius Victor, a centurion ( CIL 13, 6305 ) C (aius) I (ulius) Fe [], a cornicularius ( CIL 13, 7743 ) C (aius) Sempronius Saturninus, a centurion ( CIL 13, 6292 ) C (aius) Veturiu [s] Dexter, a soldier ( CIL 13, 11717 ) Capito, a centurion ( CIL 13, 7743 )

L (ucius) Reburrinius candidus, a soldier ( CIL 13, 6305 ) M (arcus) Alpinius [C] lassicianu [s], a centurion ( CIL 13, 7741 ) T (itus) Fl (avius) Severus, a soldier ( CIL 14, 2952 ) Victor, a centurion ( CIL 13, 11717 )

See also

• List of Roman auxiliary units
• Roman armed forces in Germania

Web links

Commons : Cohors XXVI Voluntariorum  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

literature

• John Spaul : Cohors² The evidence for and a short history of the auxiliary infantry units of the Imperial Roman Army , British Archaeological Reports 2000, BAR International Series (Book 841), ISBN 978-1-84171-046-4

Remarks

1. ↑ The point in time at which the cohort was drawn up is controversial. The unit was possibly formed under Augustus as a result of the Pannonian uprising along with other cohorts of Roman citizens.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Inscription ( CIL 14, 2952 ).
2. ↑ Inscriptions from Baden-Baden ( AE 1994, 1303 , CIL 13, 6292 , CIL 13, 6305 , CIL 13, 6307 , CIL 13, 11717 ).
3. ^ Bricks from Baden-Baden : stamps C XXVI ( CIL 13, 12493,1 ) and C XXVI VOL CR ( CIL 13, 12493,2 ).
4. ↑ Inscriptions from Heddesdorf ( CIL 13, 7741 , CIL 13, 7743 ).
5. ^ Bricks from Windisch : stamp C XXVI ( CIL 13, 12491 ).
6. ↑ John Spaul , Cohors², pp. 19-20, 44-45.